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Klontz Recognized as MIAC Athlete-of-the-Week

January 14, 2013 at 5:08 pm

By MIAC staff

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Swimming isn't often thought of as a head-to-head team sport, but Carleton engaged in a thrilling pair of duals against MIAC rivals over the weekend with senior swimmer Erik Klontz (Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) leading the way in both. Klontz had four first-place finishes and set a new pool record Friday as he helped the Knights defeat Gustavus in a dual for the first time in 15 years, and he added three firsts and second Saturday in a narrow six-point loss at Saint John's the next afternoon. For his record-setting performance, Klontz was named the MIAC Men's Swimming and Diving Athlete-of-the-Week, his third career award.

Klontz finished first in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races Friday and led the 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relay teams to victory as well in Carleton's thrilling 151-137 win over the Gusties. Klontz's time of 20.67 in the 50 was a new Thorpe Pool record. A day later, he swept the 50 and 100 again, while leading the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a first-place finish and getting a second with the 200-yard medley relay team as Carleton suffered a narrow 148-142 to the Johnnies in Collegeville. Klontz is unbeaten and has the MIAC's top time in the 50-yard freestyle this season, and he currently ranks second in the 100 in the conference.

After an exciting weekend of dual meets, Klontz and his Carleton teammates will take two weeks off to rest up for the season's stretch run. The Knights will return to action on Jan. 26 with a dual meet at cross-town rival St. Olaf, set to start at 11 a.m. After that, Carleton will compete in the St. Thomas Invitational Feb. 1-2 and host the Northfield Diving Invite on Feb. 5 as the final tune-ups prior to the 2013 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held Feb. 14-16 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

Andy Clark has been the head men's and women's swimming and diving coach at Carleton since 1994, and has led the Knights to consistent top-four finishes at the MIAC Championships. His athletes at Carleton have earned All-American honors 15 times and each of his squads have been awarded academic team honors by the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) on both the men's and women's side.